Talk Canicross

We are delighted to have  Daisy Hickman on this episode, she is one of our Ambassadors and a regular Canicrosser.

For ten years, Daisy dedicated herself to long-distance trails and club running events, however six years ago, began experiencing debilitating panic attacks during her runs. 

After numerous medical tests she was eventually diagnosed with exercise induced panic attacks and the pleasure of running seemed completely lost.

However enter Pepper, who came as a puppy and when she was old enough gave Daisy the confidence to consider running again.  As well as being great company Pepper became Daisy's anxiety antidote. The connection they shared on the trails made Daisy feel less alone, providing a distraction from anxiety and a sense of being looked after. 

The power of Canicross is a remarkable thing and so interesting to hear about their journey.

Do you have an anxious, reactive or nervous dog and think Canicross is the last thing you would be able to do with them, especially with a group of people and their dogs?

Well, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that Canicross can be a positive experience for your dog, and we have countless examples over the years of people who have seen their dogs transform into confident and focused dogs who simply want to run and enjoy being part of a pack.

Ginetta and I receive enquiries pretty much every week from people who want to try Canicross but are worried their dog may not be suitable for Canicross, so we wanted to address that today and hopefully allay any fears you may have.

We’re joined by DogFit Trainer Manda Crofts. Manda runs Canicross sessions with her dog Arlo. She is also a personal trainer and perimenopause specialist coach and has been empowering women to feel fitter, stronger, healthier and energised for over 8 years.

Manda helps women ditch yo-yo dieting and thrive through menopause with her personalised online coaching and today she’s going to share some of this knowledge and also explain why exercise is so important.

Below are links to the websites mentioned.

If you are looking to start Canicrossing with your dog, we can help with advice, kit and support.

Canicross is for everyone and everydog, however sometimes taking those first steps in the sport is the hardest part. There could be lots of reasons stopping you and having the confidence to try can open the doors to a wonderful sport and fun with your dog.

In this episode we are joined by Inein Victor Garrick, who is also one of our DogFit Ambassadors. On social media he is known as @vikto_garik_runs, and together with his dog Zuko aka Firelord, they regularly Canicross and race together.

We’re interested to hear about their journey, as Inein only started running as an adult and went from a fear of dogs, to now owning two! We chat with Inein about his tips for helping with confidence on the start line at events and his approach to racing. He regularly takes part in events with Firelord Zuko and are going from strength to strength. 

Are you new to Canicross or watching on the sidelines thinking about taking the plunge? If you fall into either of these categories this podcast is 100% for you.

Today we are joined by DogFit Trainer Sian Swift, who has been on the team for 4 years now coaching her popular Canicross classes in the Leeds area.

We wanted to invite Sian along because she has tonnes of experience helping people who are both new to Canicross and to running so she not only has the knowledge and experience to teach people and their dogs to Canicross but she understands some of the nervousness or concerns some people may have taking on a new sport.

So today we going to take the most common questions or concerns we receive from our customers about Canicross and address them head on, hopefully leaving you with the confidence to head out onto the trails with your dog.

We were very excited to have one of our DogFit Ambassadors on our podcast this week. Melissa, aka Chewy Barker Woof on Instagram, has a big following on social, particularly amongst Beagle owners as her own dog Chewy is a bit of a pin-up Beagle, who happens to love running with his Mum. 

Canicross has been a revelation and transformation for them both and in this episode, we hear about their exciting adventures and plans for the future.

As Canicrossers, the health and wellbeing of our dogs is our main priority. We love getting out there and running whenever we can, whatever the weather. However, when the weather warms up, how hot is too hot?

One of the common questions we get asked is, 'Can any dog breed Canicross and are there some that are better than others’. Our answer is always yes, however we do find that there is one particular dog group that we know takes to the sport really well.

The gundog group make popular family pets and are known as reliable and loving companions. However they are very active and can get easily bored if they are under-excercised and not using their heads. From Spaniels to Pointers, Viszlas to Labradors we’ve enjoyed introducing them and their owners to Canicross.

We are joined today by Michelle Oseman, professional Gundog Trainer and expert handler. Having gained many Field and Trail Test awards running her spaniels in the shooting field, Michelle is now enjoying running with her dogs and Canicrossing. We are keen to learn more and understand how these two can work together.

Back in October 2020, Ginetta and I launched our first ever Podcast series. We kicked off with our episode 'Questions, Fun & Fears’ that involved a really fun and interesting conversation with Carolyne and Kelly, two complete newbies to Canicross.

We chatted about those first steps to getting started and then gaining confidence on the trails. Carolyne had just completed the DogFit Couch to 5k programme with her Vizsla Ted and she shared her experiences with us and told us how, as a non-runner, she had completely fallen in love with Canicross. For anyone new to the sport we highly recommend you take a listen to it as it is as relevant today as it was back then.

We are so pleased that we have Carolyne with us today and we are really excited to find out what she and Ted have been up to since we last caught up with her.

A top priority is for any dog owner is the health and wellbeing of your dog and when we introduce them to a new sport that ups their activity levels it is important to monitor their weight and nutrition.

The same goes for dogs that have been Canicrossing for a while, or perhaps you have decided to focus on a goal, which might involve working towards longer distances.

We are joined by Rebekah Thompson, who is a Senior Customer Services advisor at Skinners. Rebekah gives us expert advice and tips on how to measure, manage and monitor.

One of the most common questions we get asked by our customers, is 'how old should my dog be before they can Canicross?’ We always advocate waiting until your dog is fully grown before they do anything too rigorous as their growth plates are still forming but we thought we’d get an expert in to explain in more detail why this is so important. Grace Bird, who is our guest today, is a radiographer and DogFit Trainer, so she not only has the knowledge but she can relate it to this sport we all love so much.

Grace also has experience working with reactive and anxious dogs, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to ask her why she feels Canicross is such a great outlet for them.

We’ve all been there…as we close one year and another fast approaches we start to think about what we want to strive for in the new year. For many of us we tend to reflect on our health and fitness goals. But how do we find the motivation to get started and, most importantly, how do we stick to a plan beyond the first month?

Well, fear not, help is on hand. We are joined by DogFit Trainer and Personal Trainer Cat Batson who has plenty of advice to help you set your fitness goals in 2022 and stick to them!

It's nearly Christmas and at this time of year many of us enjoy the festivities and the treats it brings. We all want our dogs to join in too, but what is safe to treat them with?

In this episode we chat with Zoe Russell, Nutrition Officer at Skinner's about foods that your dog can and can't eat. Zoe's answers some of those FAQs about which delicacies you can spoil them with. 

We all want to make sure that our dogs are getting the right nutrition, especially if they are increasing their activity or out Canicrossing regularly.

We chat with our partners at Skinners about their new Get out & Go range, specific ingredients that are beneficial for our dogs and their new energy and recovery bars. With over 50 years of experience of fuelling active dogs, so understand the energy requirements and nutritional support that dogs need.

We are pleased to welcome Hiedi Hutchinson, Marketing Director and Zoe Russell Skinner's Nutrition Officer to help guide us.

When we talk about Canicross we tend to focus on the three main pieces of equipment; the belt, harness & line. But what is often overlooked is what you should be wearing on your feet. We’ve all been there, and just gone out and bought a pair of trainers that we think will do the job. Then when it gets muddy and wet we start to wish we had gone for something with better traction, especially when there’s a dog pulling out in front! Or worse still, we pick up injuries.

But when it comes to which trainers you should wear, especially for off-road running, it can be a minefield; there are so many brands out there, all claiming to do different things, whether it’s the amount of cushioning and support you need or the best tread for the terrain you run on.

So what should we be looking out for when buying our trail shoes aside from whether they come in our favourite colour?!

Well, thankfully we have elite Canicrosser and co-owner of Alton Sports Running Shop Georgie Lambert with us today so our feet are in good hands, so to speak!

We were talking the other day about how we first got started in Canicross, many moons ago now. It occurred to us how much the sport has grown and evolved in that time. It’s like any other sport really, with so much to learn. When you first take it up and you’re a complete beginner, it might seem quite straightforward to just get your dog in a harness, put on a waist belt and go off for a run. Actually, there is so much more to it, as we have discovered in the years that we have been Canicrossing.

So, we thought it would be a really good idea to talk about all the things we wish we had known when we first got into Canicross and then found out over the years we have been doing the sport. We hope you find the following useful.

Are you one of thousands of people who took on a lockdown puppy, then realised they were lacking some fundamental socialisation skills through no fault necessarily of your own. And on top of that you had a very energetic young dog with excess energy to burn off, that wasn’t going to relent even when they turned into a young adult!

Well fear not, help is on hand. Today, we are very pleased to welcome experienced DogFit Instructor and Dog Trainer Matt Blackbourn, who is with us to share his personal experiences and advice for introducing Canicross to young dogs in a positive and effective way.

When we take our dogs to the vet for their annual check-up, it’s always reassuring to hear that they are in good shape. If you’re a Canicrosser already, it’s normally at that point that you’ll have a conversation with your vet about Canicross. Did your vet know what Canicross was? In the past, there have been many vets who have never heard of it. However, that’s now changing. As the sport continues to grow, it’s also an activity that many vets now recognise and are seeing the benefits it can bring to dogs and their owners.

Small animal vet, Morgane Bitane is also a keen Canicrosser who has first-hand experience of running with her own dog. Here, she offers her views and thoughts from a vet’s perspective.

Pilates has been around for close to 100 years. Founded by Joseph Pilates, a German physical trainer fascinated by the balancing of body, mind and spirit, the discipline is all about strengthening the body, toning the muscles and improving posture and flexibility. This makes it a perfect companion for Canicrossers.

Pilates has grown exponentially over the past 12 months as people have more time to spare to try out new activities and more fitness instructors are moving online to give classes and physical training sessions.

Someone who can tell us more about this highly effective form of exercise is DogFit Canicross trainer and Pilates instructor, Louise Humphrey. She also explains why Pilates is a great form of exercise for Canicrossers and general runners alike.

Then add the same links used in the blog:

Find out more about Louise and the classes she offers below:

Are you interested in taking up Canicross but concerned you have a reactive or anxious dog? 

Do you worry about how your dog will react to the Canicross kit, sounds and smells, not to mention the other people and dogs running ahead, behind and alongside them? Well, experienced dog trainer and DogFit Canicross instructor Christine Barber, is on hand to reassure you that you and your dog can safely and confidently take part in this wonderful sport. She shares her personal experiences and invaluable advice for making the experience a positive one so you and your dog can concentrate on enjoying the trails.

We are often asked about the right nutrition for canicross dogs. After all, our dogs are the priority and we want to make sure we are providing the best for them, especially when are upping their activity and distances.

So who better to ask than our friends at Skinners. They have over 50 years of experience of fuelling active dogs, so understand the energy requirements and nutritional support that dogs need.

We are pleased to welcome Zoe Russell to Talk Canicros. Zoe is a qualified Dog Nutritionist and Skinner's Nutrition Officer and helps guide us through some of those FAQs.

Sean Laidlaw was working as a bomb disposal expert in Syria when he discovered an abandoned puppy hidden amongst the rubble. This was just the beginning of what was to turn out to be a life-affirming moment for both of them.

In this edition of Talk Canicross Sean takes time out of his hectic schedule to share his special story with us from the moment he first met Barrie, to the long and arduous process of bringing her back to the UK with the help of the amazing charity War Paws. He explains how Canicross has particularly helped deepen their bond. 

Sean also opens up to us about his personal struggles with PSTD and how Barrie rescued him as much as he rescued her. 

This is a remarkable true story with a very happy ending!

DogFit Trainer and experienced Canicrosser, Cat Everard, talks opening and candidly about her personal battle with mental health and recent diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

We discuss how looking after both her body and mind has been an important factor in how she lives with MS and manages her mental health, and the positive impact Canicross has had on her life.

Whether you can directly relate to Cat’s experiences or know someone struggling with mental health illness, such as depression or anxiety, this is an episode not to be missed.

Join us as we chat with Dog Trainer and Behaviourist, Clare Grierson. 

We talk through getting the best from our dogs whilst out Canicrossing. How to keep your dog focussed and challenges that some of us come across when starting out. Claire explains how to work with your dog so you both get the best out of our sport.

Happy Canicrossing!

Ever wondered what it's like to compete at top level Canicross?

In this episode we're joined by Georgie Lambert, British, European and World Championship Canicross competitor.  

** British Silver Medalist  *** European Bronze Medalist •••• Ranked 10th in the World 2020

Georgie talks about her amazing journey from a DogFit intro session to competing at top level with her rescue dog Benson.  Sharing hints and tips as well as hopes for the future with her new Eurohound, Queen Bee. A truly inspiring story of teamwork and fun times!

Happy Canicrossing!

In our first episode, where better to start than at the very beginning! We are joined by two newbies to the sport, Carolyne Cross and Kelly Satchell. Fabulous to hear from them both and help answer their questions, as well as hearing their first hand experiences.

If you’ve heard about Canicross and want to know more, listen in for all those FAQs that run through your head, before you’ve even put a harness on your dog.

Happy Canicrossing!

SPECIAL NOVEMBER OFFERIf you are new to canicross and would like to join our online self paced couch-5k course, now is the time! Throughout November, we have discounted from £49.00 to just £9. You can find the course here: www.https://dogfit.teachable.com/

We're here to talk all things Canicross and hope you will join us by listening as we hear more about the sport we are all so passionate about and dogs of course.

Each month we will be joined by a special guest (or two). We’ll hear from professionals, regular canicrossers and also dog and human experts in their field. It will be real people, real stories.

We hope you’ll join us, whether it’s for training tips, dog talk or just for fun and encouragement.

This is Talk Canicross, bought to you by DogFit, and don’t forget, hit subscribe and keep in touch with all things Canicross.